Uriah Heep Live [LIVE]

Uriah Heep

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 3, 1989)
• Original Release Date: May 1973
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Island / Mercury
• ASIN: B000001F9K
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #72,499 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uriah Mott Live, August 22, 2004

By	Kim Fletcher (Pattaya, Chonburi Thailand) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

From all the early seventies live double hard rock albums, most people would reckon that Deep Purple's 'Made in Japan' comes out top of the heap. But to this old dog Uriah Heep's live album just pips it at the post. Both were released by their record companies within six months of each other; Deep Purple's effort coming in December of 1972, while Uriah Heep's came in May of the following year. Both came with the same mass marketing including the special price tag of two LPs for the equivalent of one. Both albums pushed their respective bands into the superstar division. And, remarkably in similar fashion, both bands would fire their lead vocalist and bassist within a couple of years.

Deep Purple's `Made in Japan' consisted of a complete concert, only seven songs, drawing heavily on their last album, at the time `Machine Head', but missed out on the encores (until they were later added on when the album was re-mastered for CD, and a very worthy addition they are, too). `Made in Japan' also included `The Mule', which is basically a 10-minute drum solo. No matter how good Mr. Paice is, how many times do you want to listen to a drum solo? Final track on `Made in Japan' is `Space Truckin', which, at twenty odd minutes, took up the whole of side four in the days of vinyl. Although it starts out in fine rockin' style, the final fifteen minutes of everybody soloing against everybody else was very exciting if you were actually at the concert, but gets just a bit tedious with the sound but no visual.

Whereas the Uriah Heep Live came in with a total of twelve songs, including three encore numbers. Sadly though, to make space for these encore numbers, four concert numbers played on that night in Birmingham, England, had to be cut and have since been lost. We shall never hear the whole concert with `Lady In Black', `Bird Of Prey', `The Wizard', and `Come Away Melinda' in their rightful place in the set. The selection that we did get had songs from four of Uriah Heep's five albums to date. Nothing from second album, `Salisbury', made it to the live album.

Opening with a brace from latest album, `the Magician's Birthday', `Sunrise' and `Sweet Lorraine', where the rhythm section of Kerslake and Thain show that after a year together in the band they have really jelled, propelling Heep into another realm. Thain, originally from New Zealand, was one of the new breed of bass guitarists who, as well as putting in plenty of bottom end, also used his axe as a lead instrument, never happy to be submerged in the mix. Lee Kerslake, one of the nicest men to have stepped onto a rock 'n' roll stage, did not so much use his arms and wrists to beat the skins, but seemed to use his whole body and every inch of energy in it to put the power into Heep.

The band then continued with two songs from `The Demons and Wizards', `Traveler In Time', and `Easy Livin'. It seems strange now to hear `Easy Livin' so early in the set, as today it is usually kept back for a final blast to bring the Heep's concert to a dramatic rockin' climax.

`July Morning' from Heep's third album `Look At Yourself' is the first epic hauled out by the band, showing off all the band's assets, epecially the talents of David Byron, who in 1973 was at the peak of his powers, both as an entertainer and a vocalist with a quite extraordinary range. Add this to the five-part harmonies the rest of the band was able to put in, and `July Morning' gets the stamp of a rock classic.

For a change of style, but certainly not pace, Ken Hensley comes from behind his bank of keyboards to play a slide guitar duel with lead guitarist Mick Box on `Look at Yourself' and `Tears in My Eyes', and quite a battle it is, too. Then it's back behind the keyboards for Ken Hensley for his keyboard solo number `Gypsy', which comes from Uriah Heep's first album 'Ever So 'Eavy Ever So 'Umble'. Clocking in at 14 minutes, there is plenty of space for Ken Hensley to go through his antics using all the organs and Moog's at his disposal.

`The Phantom of the Rock 'n' Roll Opera'.

Then there is time for one more epic in the `Demons and Wizards' song, `Circle of Hands'. It starts off with some lovely interplay between Hensley's piano and Byron's vocals before the band gradually builds the song to a rousing conclusion. Then `Look at Yourself' charges out as Mick Box brings the house down with a crushing guitar solo.

That leaves only encore time, a snippet of `The Magician's Birthday' before the volume is cranked to 11 for a run through of `Love Machine', which just rocks. Then, as was tradition in those days, something for band and audience to really let their hair down to - the Rock 'n' Roll Medley. By this time it is difficult to tell who is having a better time, the band or the audience.

So, for best heavy rock live album of the early seventies, Mott gives it to Uriah Heep by the shortest of noses. Deep Purple definitely came an honorable second though.

Rocked By Mott the Dog
`n'
Rolled By Ella Crew

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Classic Live Set, October 2, 2003

By	Michael Laimo "Horror Author" (Melville, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is by far one of the best live albums of its day, alongside Made In Japan. This concert displays the original band at its height, with the gorgeous vocals of the late David Byron, who is masterful on July Morning. The band opens up with Sunrise (recently added to their set list after thirty years!), a telling song that builds with power. We sail into Sweet Lorraine, a wonderful 'Rock and Roller that you can stand up and Boogie to', as Byron tells the crowd. Traveller in Time is next, a hard-rocker that segues into the band's most popular tune, Easy Livin. These four songs are performed much as they are on the album, as Uriah Heep keeps to the faith of the songs (and proabably didn't really know how to improvise on stage, as is evident as to the tightness of the songs played in this set). Gypsy is played in its entirety, including the now left out instrumental intro, and a keyboard and drum solo is added. Tears in my Eyes displays Ken Hensley with a nice slide guitar solo. This is a classic rock album by one of the longest lasting bands in rock and roll history. Heep must've been a glory to see live at this time in their carrer...long live the memories of David Byron and Gary Thain. Long Live Heep!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The band at its height of fame, March 7, 2000

By A Customer

What was fun about listening to this power-pact live recording is actually re-living the band's Magician's Birthday Tour I experienced in Seattle. A packed house, rockin' stuff, real trippy songs, guitar jams galore by Mr. Party himself, Mick Box, and outrageous keyboards and moog synthesisers by Ken Hensley. This show was so memorable, everyone sang along to the Rock & Roll Medley, making me feel we were all wearing Blue Suede Shoes. Someone in the Heepster's entourage should've arranged for the filming of this crazy night in Birmingham, England.